This lithograph features a Hubble image of the galaxy cluster Abell 2744, which exhibits a special feature known as gravitational lensing. The backside includes a description of the image and its features. Students use the image and the information...(View More) provided to generate related questions, then conduct research to find the answers. Lesson details, including suggested research websites, are provided.(View Less)

This two-page lithograph features an infrared image entitled, Pillars in the Monkey Head Nebula (the nebula also known as NGC 2174), located in the Orion constellation. The accompanying classroom activity "In Search of....Star Formation" is a...(View More) curriculum support tool designed for use as an introductory inquiry activity. During the classroom activity, students use the images and text on this lithograph to generate questions about the electromagnetic spectrum. They will conduct research to answer their questions, then create a presentation to demonstrate their understanding of the material.(View Less)

This is a two-page lithograph featuring the Cepheid Variable Star RS Puppis, an example of a special class of bright pulsating stars whose light and energy outputs vary over a set period of time. The text on the lithograph explains the historic...(View More) importance of Cepheid variable stars as distance markers. The accompanying classroom activity In Search of … Cepheid Variable Stars is a curriculum support tool designed for use as an introductory inquiry activity. During the classroom activity, students use the images and text on this lithograph to generate questions about Cepheid variable stars. They will conduct research to answer their questions and will create a presentation to demonstrate their understanding of the material, providing supporting evidence from their research.(View Less)

Students participate in a series of activities to discover how astronomers use computers to create images and understand data. No programming experience is required; students will use pencilcode.net to complete such activities as creating a color,...(View More) exploring filters and color-shifting, and creating individual images of star-forming regions. These one to two hour activities demonstrate a real world application of science, technology and art.(View Less)

This slide set is one of a series of slide sets meant to bring recent NASA discoveries to the college-level non-major introductory astronomy classroom. This series is intended to support the higher education community by making relevant NASA Science...(View More) Mission Directorate E/PO discoveries easier to incorporate into the classroom. The "Astro 101 slide sets" compile short, topical presentations on new developments from NASA SMD Astrophysics missions relevant to introductory astronomy (a.k.a. Astronomy 101) topics. We intend for these slide sets to help Astronomy 101 instructors include the latest developments (discoveries not yet in their textbooks) into the “big-picture” context of their courses. The slide sets are constructed to be included easily as a lecture supplement including synopsis, references, and graphics. This particular slide set focuses on the Fermi Mission's discovery of bubbles emanating from the core of the Milky Way galaxy. The set was produced in collaboration with the NASA Astrophysics education and public outreach (E/PO) community, including the Fermi E/PO program.(View Less)

Students will use educational materials from NASA's Cosmic Times to create their own mash-up (an image, audio or video created by combining two or more sources of media into a new work). This lesson offers the opportunity to use media mash-up...(View More) technology, to acquire knowledge through differentiated instruction, and for students to present their knowledge, ideas and individual perspectives. The lesson includes links to handouts, procedures, and introductory mash-up videos.(View Less)

This slide set is one of a series of slide sets meant to bring recent NASA discoveries to the college-level non-major introductory astronomy classroom. This series is intended to support the higher education community by making relevant NASA Science...(View More) Mission Directorate E/PO discoveries easier to incorporate into the classroom. The "Astro 101 slide sets" compile short, topical presentations on new developments from NASA SMD Astrophysics missions relevant to introductory astronomy (a.k.a. Astronomy 101) topics. We intend for these slide sets to help Astronomy 101 instructors include the latest developments (discoveries not yet in their textbooks) into the “big-picture” context of their courses. The slide sets are constructed to be included easily as a lecture supplement including synopsis, references, and graphics. This particular slide set focuses on new information learned about galaxy evolution thanks for multiwavelength observations of M101. The set was produced in collaboration with the NASA Astrophysics education and public outreach (E/PO) community.(View Less)

This online Flash interactive simulates the process of discovering new exoplanets using the transit method. Learners explore a simulated star field, record data, make measurements and do calculations to discover new planets. Instructional videos and...(View More) guides are included.(View Less)

Cosmology is an enormous field and the number of educational resources can be a bit overwhelming. This annotated guide includes a sampling of non-technical materials – online and in print - that Astronomy 101 instructors around the U.S. have been...(View More) using. Items were selected based on their level of difficulty (Astro 101 level and below), the likelihood of their being easily available for a college audience, and their potential usefulness for teaching and learning.(View Less)